Surrounded by a swarm graduating Bonita High School seniors, 17-year-old Amanda Duddles looked back on four years.
The moment, she said, “Is kind of bittersweet I think.”
“I was in band for four years and the people I met throughout those four years, I think I’m going to miss more than anything else,” she said minutes before marching out to start Wednesday’s commencement ceremony. "I’m going to miss Bonita a lot. But also I’m really excited to move on because it’s been a long four years.”
Duddles and 423 fellow students were part of Bonita High School’s 109th graduating class. Each collected their diplomas in front of parents and guest teachers, a school sanctioned feature of the ceremony in which former teachers are invited to the ceremony.
“I am so honored,” said Joan Cho, a third grade Teacher from Grace Miller Elementary School. “I was hopeful because I knew about the program here. I hoped one day maybe I would be lucky enough to get invited by one student.” That was a decade ago.
When her first class reached graduation day, Cho said she received three invitations.
“I was so jazzed,” she said.
Parents also felt the rush of emotion, said Cindy White, of La Verne. Her youngest of two daughters, who she home schooled until they reached high school, would march that day. White’s youngest would earn seven honors, including a National Honor Society award, she said.
“It’s just exciting to have both girls graduate from the same high school,” White said.
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